Waler clamp for concrete wall forms



Dec. 13, 1960 I J. E. IMONETTI WALER CLAMP FOR CONCRETE WALL FORMS Filed Sept. 4, 1958 IN VENTOR JoHN E. IMoNETH ATTY,

United States.

I 2,964,294 WALER CLAMP FOR CONCRETE WALL FORMS John E. Imon'etti, Prospect Heights, 111., assignor to Symons Clamp & Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., :1 corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 4, 1958, ser; No. 759,993 8 Claims. (Cl. zs4 -29 The present invention relates to concrete wall forms of the-panel type wherein the opposedformwalls are each constructed of a group of rectangular panels'assembled in edge-to-edge.. relationship with the wet, concrete being poured into the space existing between the walls, and the two walls are connected by combined .tie rodand spreader devices to prevent the walls from bulging under the thru st of the wet concrete. The panels commonly employed in this type of concrete wall form consist of a facing of plywood against which the wet concrete lies, and a stiffening and strengthening frame is applied'to the outer side of the facing-such frame including marginal horizontal and waler clamping device of this character which maybe verticalmember s and intermediate crossbars which may e'gfitend either vertically or horizontally and are connected atithe iriends to either the horizontal of the vertical marf ginal namejmembers, Where walls,- assembled from 'sl ich edgewise arranged p anels, are of considerable length, if is customary to further stiffen and maintain thepanels in longitudinal alignment by'means of relatively heavystringers or walers which extend horizontally across the outer sides of the panels and bear against the vertical marginal 'members and which have associated therewith means for wedging the walers hard against these marginal members so that-the latter are brought into accurate alignment with one another. The present invention is concerned with an improved means for securing the walers to the vertical marginalmembers of a panel as sembly in a concrete form of the general character outlined above.

The'present invention has particular reference toicori cfete wall forms of the general type known as prefabri cate d wall forms wherein the individual panel 'units' are" assembled at the factory rather than in the field and wherein theplywood panel-reinforcing members, includ--f ingt-he vertical and horizontal marginal members and any intermediate cross members which may beemployed, 1 are in the form of lengths of steel channel or angle stock which-may be rolled to special shape and perforated, notched, grooved or otherwise fashioned toproperly receive therein the plywood panel edges, as well as to facilitate the use of suitable fastening devices or other concrete form hardware whereby the adjacent panel units' may be fastened together. 7 i

*"It is among the principal objects of the present inven-- tion to provide a novel waler anchoring means for" wedging a pair of superimposed walers hard against the outer eirpo'sed edges ofa pair of adjacent vertical steel frame members'in a concrete wall form installation, such anchoring means serving, in addition to itswedging function,' to positively draw the adjacent panels together, as we'll: asto' retain the walers in their superimposed relation ship against vertical separation.

-'--A still further object of the invention is to. provide a waler anchoring means which is comprised of but two metal members or pieces instead of the usual three to" rave "pieces commonly employed withconventional waler anchoring devices Yet an0ther object of the invention is -to provide a:

ing the. same operatively applied to the medial regionsio in the form of an angle piece extends across each panel applied to adjacent vertical steel frame members of a concrete wall form installation at selected vertical regions therealong and which clamping device is entirely inde-. pendent of the combined spreader and-tie rod devices which ordinarily function in combination with conventional waler wedging devices as reaction members whichv assimilate the wedging thrust. The provisionof a waler clamping mechanism which is extremely simple in its construction, one which is rugged and durable and which will, therefore, withstand rough usage; one which may be manaufactured at a low cost; one which is simple in its application and requires no par, ticular skill for itsinstallation or removal from a concrete: form assembly; one which may. repeatedly be used in suecessive installations; one whichrequires no nailing and; which, therefore, does not mutilate the lumbo of the:' walers; and one which otherwise is well adapted to perform the services of it, are further desirable features which have been borne inmind in the production and development of the. present invention. With these and other objects in view, which will become more readily apparent as the following description ensues, the invention consists of the novel construction combina tion and arrangement of parts shown inthe accompanying single sheet of drawing forming a part of this specification. In this drawing; 7 e j Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in sec-" tion, of a waler clamping assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present inventionand show a pair of walers andserving to, force the latter hard; against the outerside edges of a pair of adjacent panel; members in a concrete form assembly; 1 Fig 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially;

the horizontal plane indicated by the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; and Figure 3 is an enlarged showing of the panel connecting endofthe waler clamping means and panel flanges indicating the vectorial components of force. h Referring now to the drawings in detail, a fragmentary;

portion of a composite wall form of. the prefabricated;

metal-reinforced panel type hasbeen illustrated herein; and designated in its entirety at 10., The wall form 10' is made up of a, series of rectangular. panel a ssemblie only two of which have been fragmentarily shown herei at 12 and 14 with the panels being arranged in edge-to edge relationship. Each panel is in the form of a g ne's ally rectangular plywood facing 16 havinga steel marginal reinforcing frame applied to the outer face of the paneland consisting of vertical and horizontal marginal 4 frame bars, only the vertical marginal bars being illus'-" tr'ated herein, two of them being designated at 18 and 20. These bars 18 and 20 extend in contiguity at the region where the panel units 12, and 14 meet in edge-to edge' relationship.- It will be understood that the wall 10 is T arranged in spaced opposition to a similar, wall (not? shown) and is maintained in its spaced relationship therefrom by means of conventional tie rod and spreader devices (likewise not shown) suitably connected to the) two walls. An intermediate horizontallframe member 2 and has its ends secured as bywelding to the o pqs'ea faces of the two vertical marginal framemem-bers 18 ,and 20. The inclusion of these horizontal frame, members 225 has no connection with the present waler clam'ping device "a slight distance front the inside edge of the frame bar and'the disclosurethereof is purely incidental.

"Each vertical frame bar 18 and 20 is 'of shallow chan-- nel shape cross section andincludes'insid'e and outsidemarg'inal flanges 24'and 26,'resp'ectively, and-a connect ing'we'bfportion28. A lateral fiange'30 spaced inwardl affiords a right angle recess 32 in which the adjacent vertical edge of the plywood panel 16 seats with its inside face extending flush with the inside edge 34 of the frame bar.

During erection of the concrete wall form' '10, one of the vertical marginal frame bars 18 will be placed in contiguity with one of the vertical marginal frame bars 20 and the two bars will meet so' that the respective flanges 24 and the respective flanges 26 are in edge-toedge contact while the web portions 28 remain slightly separated to create a void 36 therebetween. At verti-v cally spaced regions along the marginal flanges 24 and 26, pairs of transversely registering notches 38 are provided and these notches, when the frame bars are in contiguity, define therebetween horizontal channel voids 40' adapted to receive therethrough the tie rods proper (not shown) of conventional spreader and tie rod assemblies. A rectangular hole 42 is formed in theweb portion 28 at the horizontal level of each pair of notches and is adapted to receive therethrough the usual T-bolt and wedge assembly devices whereby the frame bars 18 and 20 may be drawn tightly together.

Concrete wall forms of the type disclosed herein and described above may vary widely in their details of construction and it will be understood that the wall form illustrated herein is purely exemplary of one embodiment of a wall form to which the waler clamping means of the present invention is applicable. Only such portions of the wall form as are operatively associated with, or bear a relation to, the present clamping device have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

shown in Fig, 1, a pair of stringers or walers 5.0

ajnd52 extend horizontally across the outer side surfaces of the form 10 and their purpose is to maintain longitudinal alignment of the panels throughout the full lengthv of the form. Each waler is sufficiently long as to span several panels and, in accordance with conventional practice, each pair of walers includes bars 50 and 52 which alternate lengthwise and are slightly oifset vertically so that their end portions overlap at vertical joints between adjacent panels.

The waler clamping means of the present invention whereby the walers 50 and 52 may be forced hard against the edge regions of adjacent panels 12 and 14, specifically against the outer adjacent edges 54 of the forms, comprises a two-piece assembly including a combined lever and tension, rod 56, and a combined wedge memher and clamp 58. The combined lever and tension rod is in the form of an irregular shaped hook member and it will hereinafter be referred to as such. This hook member 56 is adapted to have one end projected through one of the pairs of horizontally registering openings 42 and to pass horizontally and transversely between the upper and lower walers 50 and 56 and have its free end engaged by the combined wedge member and clamp 58 in a manner and for a purpose that will be made clear presently. The latter member 58, which will hereinafter be referred to simply as a wedge member, isv adapted to span the vertical thickness of the superimposed walers 50 and 52 and to engage the free projecting end of the hook member so as to exert a tension on the hook member whereby the walers will be held against relative vertical displacement and whereby they will 'be forced hard against the adjacent edges 54 of the vertical frame bars 18 and 20, as likewise will be made clear subsequently.

The hook member 56 is in the form of a piece of fiat metal stock which, in the plan view thereof shown in Fig; 2, maybe regarded as being roughly of Z-shape in that it includes a short forwardly extending portion 60 which constitutes the hook proper, a relatively long rearwardly extending portion or lever arm 62 which is generally parallel to. thehook portion 60, and a eonnecting webor transverse portion 64. A short cylin pin 66 is driven, through a hole 68 near the rear age-cease 4 end of the portion 62 and is designed for wedgl'ng cooperation with the wedge member 58 for drawing the walers 50 and 52 against the panel members in a manner that will become apparent presently.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the hook member 56, when in position in the concrete form assembly 10, has its transverse portion 64 extending completely through the pair of aligned rectangular openings 42 and has a surface 70 bearing against the outer side surface 72 of the web portion 28 of the frame bar 18. The outer edge.

74 of the transverse portion 64 is straight and bears against the adjacent ends 76 of the registering openings 42. Near the region of juncture between the transverse portion 64 and the rearwardly extending portion 62, the hook member 56 is provided with a straight edge 78 which bears against the outside surface 80 of the vertical frame bar 20. The rearwardly extending portion 62 is provided with a relatively long straight edge 82 which is coextensive with the portion 62 and which passes transversely across the walers 50 and 52 at a slight angle relative to the transverse plane of the walers. The opposite edge 84 extends in a transverse plane of the walers and it is joined to the edge 78 by an inclined edge 86, the three edges 74, 78 and 86 existing, in effect, by virtue of a' trapezoidal cut-away on one side of the structure, the trapezoid embodying two adjacent right angles.

Referring now to Fig 2, it will be seen that with the hook member 56 in position within the aligned openings 42, the rearwardly extending portion or arm 62 passes betweenthe upper and lower walers 50 and 52, respec tively, and has its free end region projecting a. shortv distance beyond the outside edges of these walers. The vertically extending pin 66 is thus spaced from these. outside edges so that it is possible to insert a wedge. between the pin 66 and the walers to exert tensional force on the hook member to draw the walers hard against the panel units.

The wedge member 58 is of unitary construction and includes a wide U-shaped or channel bracket portion 90 which is formed from flat metal stock and which includes a pair of parallel side flanges 92 and 94 and a connecting web or base portion 96. A T-shaped slot having a relatively wide rectangular T-head 98 and an elongated narrow T-shank 100 is formed in the web portion 96 and extends parallel to the side flanges 92 and 94. The wedge member 58 further includes a bifurcated wedge portion 102 which projects outwardly from the face. of the web portion 96 on the outer side thereof. The wedge portion 102 may be integrally formed with the bracket portion 90 but in the illustrated form of the invention it is formed as a separate piece which is Welded to the outer face of the base portion 96. The wedge part 102 includes a pair of generally triangular parallel side members or arms 104 and 106 and a short connecting web portion 108. One edge of each triangular arm 104 and 106 is welded as at 110 to the face of the web portion 96 of the bracket part 90 in such a manner that the two arms 104 and,106 straddle the elongated portion 100 of the T-slot in close proximity thereto. The enlarged rectangular portion 98 of the slot is disposed a short distance forwardly of the tapered ends of the triangular arms 104 and, 106.

The wedge member 58, when in position in the concrete form assembly 10, straddles the superimposed walers 50 and 52 with the web portion 96 bearing against the outer vertical surfaces of the walers and with the side flanges 92 and 94 overlying and underlying respectively these walers, and with the wedge portion 102 thereof interposed betweeen the pin 66 and the outer face of the web portion 96 to which it is fixedly secured. In initially installing the wedge member 58;; the enlarged rectangular portion 98 of thc T-slot is brought into register, or alignment with the arm 60 of the hook member 56, and since'the enlarged portion. 98. provides a clearance for the pin 66, the arm as a whole, after initial positioning on the walers 50 and 52 in the manner previously described, may be driven its wedging relationship, utilizing a suitable impact tool such as a hammer or sledge (not shown). It is to be noted that during such driving of the wedge member 58, a vectorial component of force in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow P1 of Fig. 2 will be applied to the pin 66 and consequently to the outer or free end of the arm 62. This vectorial component of force which extends in a direction parallel to the axes of the walers serves to apply components of force indicated by the arrows F2 and F3, respectively (Fig. 3), to the opposite outside faces of the two adjacent form bars 18 and 2t} tending to draw these bars together, the hook member 56 in this instance operating in the manner of a lever of the first class with the fulcrum area existing along the edge 78 of the hook member. During such driving of the wedge member 58, a vectorial component of force in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow F4 will also be applied to the pin 66. This component of force extends in a direction normal to the longitudinal axes of the walers 50 and 52 and serves to draw the edge 74 tightly against the outer ends of the slots 42 in the vertical frame bars 18 and 20 to provide a reaction force for the wedge member 58 which is forced hard against the outer faces of the walers to, in turn, force these walers against the adjacent outside edges of the vertical frame members 18 and 20.

Removal of the waler clamping assembly of the present invention when the concrete form assembly is to be knocked down may be accomplished by applying the impact tool to the left-hand edge of the wedge member 58 as seen in Fig. l whereupon the wedge part 102'will release the pin 66 so that the wedge member 58 may be shifted laterally to bring the pin 66 and enlarged portion 98 of the T-slot into horizontal alignment. The wedge member 58 may then be moved horizontally outwardly away from the form assembly and the pin 66 will pass through the slot to release the two walers 50 and 52 from all clamping pressure. Thereafter, by swinging the hook member in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, the hook portion proper 60 may be withdrawn from the openings 42 to completely release the hook member from its association with the adjacent panel units 12 and 14.

From the above description it is thought that the construction, use and many advantages of the improved waler clamping apparatus will be readily apparent. A preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein in compliance with the patent statutes. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that other constructions within the scope of the appended claims are contemplated.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A two-piece waler clamp assembly for securing abutting flanges with aligning holes, and clamping the same to a pair of walerbars extending across the edges of the flanges, said assembly comprising in combination a generally Z-shaped hook member having a forwardly extending hook portion proper, a rearwardly-extending lever displaced laterally from said hook portion-proper, and

a transverse connecting portion extending between the hook-portion proper and the lever arm, said transverse connecting portion being adapted to extend through the registering holes in the abutting flanges, 'said hook er tionproper being adapted to bear against an exposed sideof one of the flanges in the vicinity of the hole therein, the forward end of said lever arm adjacent its juncture with the transverse connecting portion being adaptedto' bear against the exposed face of the other flange-said lever arm being adapted to extend between the waler bars and have its rear end project rearwardly beyond the latter, means defining a shoulder on the lever .armad jacent the rear end thereof, and a'wedge member adapted.

to extend between said shoulder and at least one of the waler bars for simultaneously forcing said waler and shoulder in opposite directions.

2. A two-piece waler clamp assembly as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said wedge member is provided with a flat waler bar engaging surface adapted to bridge the distance between the walers and bear inwardly against both of the waler bars for simultaneously forcing the waler bars and shoulder in opposite directions.

3. A two-piece waler clamp assembly as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the direction of taper of the wedge member is such that upon tightening of the wedge member, said shoulder has imparted thereto a vectorial component of force tending to swing the lever arm in a direction which increases the bearing force between said hook portion proper and said exposed face on said one frame bar, and which also increases the bearing force between the forward end of the lever arm and the exposed face of the other frame bar.

4. A two-piece waler clamp assembly as set forth in claim 2 and including, additionally, a pair of side flanges on said wedge member at opposite sides of said flat waler bar engaging surface, said side flanges being adapted to lateral separation.

5. A two-piece waler clamp assembly as set forth in claim 2 and wherein said shoulder-defining means on said lever arm comprises a pin projecting through said lever arm and extending outwardly on opposite sides thereof in opposite directions, and wherein said wedge member is bifurcated with the furcations thereof straddling said lever arm and bearing against said pin on opposite sides of the lever arm.

6. A two-piece waler clamp assembly for securing abutting flanges with aligning holes, and clamping the same to a pair of waler bars extending across the edges of the flanges, said assembly comprising in combination a generally Z-shaped hook member having a forwardly extending hook portion proper, a rearwardly extending lever arm displaced laterally from said hook portion proper, and a transverse connecting portion extending between the hook portion proper and the lever arm, said transverse connecting portion being adapted to extend through the registering holes in the abutting flanges, said hook portion proper being adapted to bear against an exposed side of one of the flanges in the vicinity of the hole therein, the forward end of said lever arm adjacent its juncture with the transverse connecting portion being adapted to bear against the exposed face of the other flange, said lever arm being adapted to extend between the waler bars and have its rear end project rearwardly beyond the latter, means defining a pair of shoulders on opposite sides respectively of the lever arm adjacent the rear end thereof, and a wedge device for forcing said shoulders and walers in opposite directions to draw the walers hard against said frame bars, said wedge device comprising a channel-shaped bracket having parallel side flanges and a connecting fiat web, said channel-shaped bracket being adapted to embrace the walers with the 7 8 fiat;-web, bcgring;agaipsg the onter facea or; the walere; References Cited in the'file of this patenr there-being 8'-.T?1O- il}; said web throughwhich said;pro- UNITED STATES P ATENTSYI- jecripg greare n i-;,oi;;v the; lever arrn is adapted; to extend,

and.a bi fiircated-;wed ge adapted tobe interposed between: colt Sept- 1928 said w'eb and shoulders'andst raddle said projectingrrear 5 6 3 May 4'. 5 endjofthekverarm ,188,400 Bosco n. 30, 1940v 7.- A waler-clampassembly assebforth in claim,6;andggfi g; 2 2' whereinsaid bifurcated wedge is functionally inte'gral- Hmber g M with said-:web of -said=channel-shapedbracket. 7 Vines g 8- A waler clamp assembly as set forth in claim' 6'and 10 n wherein said slot lies wholly within the marginal confines OTHER REFERENCES of ;the web and has its head shapedto permit passage SymonsCatalog M-7, p. 10, Symons Clamp and Mfgl therethroughof the shoulders onthe lever arm: Co.-, 4249 Diversey Ave., Chicago, Ill. 

